Looking for Sharks Fin seeds

[Jeannine]

Please does anyone have any of these to spare, I have tried for a couple of seasons with no luck,I would really appreciate it and will swap for anything you need. Thank you  with fingers crossed XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

[flowerlady]

try this:-  ;)

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rickstevens/ohmygourd/Freeseedhome.html

[grawrc]

jeannine, I thought sharks were animal rather than vegetable?? ??? ??? ???

[Jeannine]

Way at the back of my head I have an uncomfortable bell ringing about Tiscali, does anyone know why? XX Jeannine

[Deb P]

Jeannine, I have quite a few that are still drying out and are waiting to be sent out to other A4A forum members, and my Chinese friend Lee is also getting me some more of her saved seed. PM me with your address again if you would like some! ;D

[Jeannine]

Oh Deb, bless your heart and thank you XX Jeannine

[Amazin]

Deb, glad to hear you've eaten another one!

;D

[rentawreck]

The link in your reply shows a Malabar Gourd or Chilacayote.  I have one still (a Chilacayote that is) on the windowsill from last year with pleanty of seed both my own and commercial from USA.

My plant got to over 35ft so make sure you have room for these sprawling things but their fruit is edible in all stages along with the seed (which is perhaps why seed is hard to find)

Not heard it called a Shaks Fin before.

[bupster]

PS - tiscali's just the host, which you might have heard bad things about; nothing however to do with the site :)

[Jeannine]

Rentawreck, this one has so many names depending on what language.I don't think I have ever met a veggie with so many. They all come back to the same thing. I think I have 14 names for it actually!!

XX Jeannine

[rentawreck]

Thanks for that Jeannie.

I meant to ask you if you were looking for anything else in the world of wierd and wonderful veg (only been here a few days) oh and let me know if your source fails.

The Chilacayote is a great one eddible from Flower, courgette, marrow and the mature gourd keeps for over 2 years.   You can eat the seed (nuts) too and what is best about this plant is it's resistance to grey mould.   It's very reliable I find.  Only thing to remember is that male flowers from other gourds rarely (never I find) polinate it.

Have fun.

[Jeannine]

Thank you rentawreck, I actually grow most squash,  you might say they are  passion of mine, I have seeds for about 160 varieties now but I haven't had access to this one for a while. It shouldn't actually ever pollinate with squash .

I don't think I am looking for anything else actually but I am always keen to increase my tomato, squash and bean collection.

XX Jeannine

[rentawreck]

Hi again Jeannine
   Nice to see you into gourds.  Mine is hairloom tomatoes and cucumbers along with old, lost and rare fruit  + vegies (like Tiger Nuts, Madera Vine, Japanese Sword Bean, Winged Beans - not to be confused with winged peas which I also have, and fruit like Japanese Wineberries, Litchi Tomato Goji berry and Kiwano just to metion a few).  I don't know how may cucumbers I have (not above 25) but I have about 200 tomatoes and usually grow in access of 40 types each year.
   You will have what I posess in gourds which are run of the mill except for Chilacayote and the night flowering Cuccuzi.
   There is one thing that I have comming in from USA called Cassabanana or Melocoton.   This may interest you and I could sort you out a couple of seed if you would like to try.

[Amazin]

I've grown Cassabanana for a couple of years. Needs a long season  so last year's poor summer was a disaster. Lovely big velvety leaves, though.

[Jeannine]

I have the melacoton, but thank you for the offer, it is kind of you, I also have the winged beans, Kiwano,quite a lot of cukes and a lot of melons..and I have a ton of tiger nuts, I am nibbling thses as we speak. The cuccuzi sound interesting.

XX Jeannine

[rentawreck]

  Yeah, the Cuccuzi, perhaps more commonly known as Snake Gourd.   Grows up to 40ft (I Think) but unlike Chilacayote fruits quite early in it's growth.   Leaves are large and velvety almost compelling you to stroke them.  The flowers (White) open after dark and you find yourself hand pollinating before midnight instead of midday.
   The seed too is unmistakable.   Not as weird as Peruvian cucumber group (Fat Baby, Lady's Slipper, Fat Hedgehog etc.) but it is almost rectangular narrowing slightly at the germ end.  Point the germ end skywards and it reminds me of a lady's purse.
   I can let you have a few seeds if you don't have it and would like to try.

[rentawreck]

   I forgot to say that it has tendrils too.

   It's a climber!